Confused about Hotel Property Management Systems? / Jon Inge / Summer 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Confused about Hotel Property Management Systems? It wouldn’t be surprising since there are so many choices.  This guide should help. By Jon Inge, Summer 1999  "Complexing" (as if it wasn't difficult enough already)?  The good news is that the PMS market has seldom seen such a variety of different approaches to solving your property's automation needs.  The further good news is that the systems available have never been better for what is still the key system, the hub around which all other property systems revolve and in which you collect a huge amount of highly valuable gu...

Hotelsupplygroup.com Formed to Utilize Leisureplanet's Hotel Database to Reach Business-to-Business Hotel Supply Market / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Hotelsupplygroup.com Formed to Utilize Leisureplanet's Hotel Database to Reach Business-to-Business Hotel Supply Market MIAMI, NEW YORK and LONDON----July 14, 1999-- In a further step towards expanding its electronic commerce presence, Leisureplanet Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq: LPHL) and Leisureplanet, an Internet travel services provider that is 81%-owned by Leisureplanet Holdings, today announced that they have entered into a joint venture agreement with Intercommerce Trading LLC, of New York, a privately held e-commerce supply company, to create Hotelsupplygroup.com, an online business-to-business ...

Travel Tourism: The Greatest Peacetime Economic Engine the World has Ever Known! / Edward J. Hogan / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report "Travel Tourism: The Greatest Peacetime Economic Engine the World has Ever Known!" / Edward J. Hogan ANAHEIM, Calif. - July 8, 1999--Edward J. Hogan, chairman of The Hogan Family Foundation, delivered a speech in Anaheim on July 8 to teachers and administrators from around the country who are participating the National Academy Foundation's annual Institute for Staff Development. Hogan was the keynote speaker following an address by President Clinton and morning presentations given by California Governor Grey Davis, Secretary of Commerce William Daley, and Citigroup Chairman Sanford Weill. Hoga...

Comparable 2nd Qtr EBITDA Declines 1.9% at Hilton's U.S. Owned Hotels / Weak Conditions at Hawaiian Hotels Continue / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Comparable 2nd Qtr  EBITDA Declines 1.9% at Hilton's U.S. Owned  Hotels / Weak Conditions at Hawaiian Hotels Continue BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - July 21, 1999--Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT) today reported results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 1999. Income for the second quarter from continuing operations of $66 million, or $.25 per diluted share, was comparable with $65 million, or $.25 per diluted share, for the same period a year ago. Second quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and non-cash items (EBITDA) increased 14 percent to $...

Harveys Resort Casino in Lake Tahoe, Nevada Voted Best Hotel/Resort at Lake Tahoe / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Harveys Resort Casino in Lake Tahoe, Nevada Voted "Best Hotel/Resort" at Lake Tahoe LAKE TAHOE, Nev., July 27, 1999 -  Harveys Resort Casino in Lake Tahoe, Nevada has swept “Nevada Magazine’s” 1999 “Best of Nevada” readers’ poll. The readers, as announced in the August issue, have voted Harveys “Best Hotel/Resort,” “Best Place to Gamble,” and “Friendliest Casino” at Lake Tahoe. Llewellyn’s restaurant on the 19th floor of Harveys overlooking Lake Tahoe, was picked as Northern Nevada’s “Best Place for a Romantic Evening” and “Best Gourmet Room.” Additionally, the Hard Rock Ca...

Rio and Showboat Acquisitions Make Strong Impacts on Harrah's Entertainment First Half Results / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Rio and Showboat Acquisitions Make Strong  Impacts on Harrah's Entertainment First Half Results MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 21, 1999 - Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: HET) today reported results for second quarter 1999, including record revenues, EBITDA, income before extraordinary losses and net income. Second Quarter Accomplishments Diluted earnings per share before preopening costs, write-downs, reserves and recoveries, and extraordinary losses were 38 cents, exceeding analysts’ estimates Record revenues of $751.1 million EBITDA up 44% to a record $182.8 million Same store ...

Hudson Hotels Management Contracts Grow with Addition of Pennslyvania and New York Hotels / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Hudson Hotels Management Contracts Grow with Addition of Pennslyvania and New York Hotels ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 14, 1999 - Hudson Hotels Corporation, (Nasdaq: HUDS) today announced that it has executed two additional management contracts. These contracts call for the Company to be the exclusive manager of the Hawthorn Inn and Suites Limited in Lancaster, PA which is currently under construction and expected to open in January or February 2000 and the Finger Lakes Inn in Canandaigua, NY. The Company began managing the Finger Lakes Inn on July 14, 1999. The Finger Lakes Inn will be undergoing cer...

Premier Hotels, Plc, Signs Franchise Agreement with Howard Johnson for Development of 40 European Hotels / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Premier Hotels, Plc, Signs Franchise Agreement  with Howard Johnson for Development  of 40 European Hotels PARSIPPANY, N.J., July 14, 1999 - Howard Johnson International, Inc., a mid-scale hotel industry leader, announced the signing of an international master franchise agreement for eight European countries. The agreement with Premier Hotels, Plc, the current master franchisee for Howard Johnson in the UK, calls for the development of nearly 40 hotels over the next five years in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. Development is expect...

Host Marriott Corporation Refinances Debt on Eight Hotel Properties / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Host Marriott Corporation Refinances Debt  on Eight Hotel Properties Completes $650 Million Secured Financing BETHESDA, Md., July 12, 1999 -  Host Marriott Corporation (NYSE: HMT) today announced that Host Marriott, L.P. whose sole general partner is Host Marriott Corporation has closed on a $650 million, 10-year secured loan at a fixed rate of approximately 7.45%. Under the terms of the loan, the company has refinanced secured debt on eight hotel properties- the New York Marriott Marquis, the Burlingame Hyatt Regency, the Cambridge Hyatt Regency, the Reston Hyatt, the Swissotel New Yo...

Elliott Gayle and Frank Cilona Appointed to Executive Positions with Hostmark / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Elliott Gayle and Frank Cilona Appointed to  Executive Positions with Hostmark SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - July 26, 1999 - Hostmark Hospitality Group recently named Elliott Gayle to the position of General Manager at the historic Gunter Hotel, 205 East Houston Street, San Antonio, Texas. Gayle brings over 30 years of experience in the industry to his new position.  He has served in a variety of management capacities throughout the industry and is a Certified Hotel Administrator, an honor earned from the Educational Institute of the American Hotel/Motel Association in 1994. Frank Cilona will be ...

Gerald Barrack Named General Manager, Hyatt Regency Wichita / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Gerald Barrack Named General Manager,  Hyatt Regency Wichita Wichita, KS - July 20, 1999 -   Gerald Barrack has been named General Manager for the Hyatt Regency Wichita, effective June 28, 1999, upon the departure and promotion of former General Manager, Timothy P. Grambley. Barrack returns to Wichita as General Manager having served most recently as Resident Manager, Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel.  Barrack was the pre-opening Food and Beverage Director, Hyatt Regency Wichita, and previously held the positions of: Director of Operations, Trumbull Marriott; Food and Beverage Manager...

North Georgia State Park Lodges Participating in Project Planet Environmental Program/ July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  North Georgia State Park Lodges Participating in "Project Planet" Environmental Program ATLANTA – July 12, 1999 – In an effort to conserve water, detergent and energy in its laundry operations while raising funds for needy children, North Georgia State Park Lodges & Conference Centers have joined the Project Planet/Childreach environmental program.  Participating properties – managed by Amfac Parks & Resorts – are Amicalola Falls, Red Top Mountain and Unicoi State Park Lodges & Conference Centers.  The program encourages guests to reuse their linens and towels rather than automatically ...

Stéphane Fagez Appointed GM at Novotel Rim Pae Resort in Rayong / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Stéphane Fagez Appointed GM at  Novotel Rim Pae Resort in Rayong Mr. Stéphane FAGEZ has been appointed General Manager of NOVOTEL Rim Pae Resort in Rayong, replacing Michel VIVIER who is now heading to Novotel Phuket Resort. A French national, Stéphane FAGEZ graduated from Toulouse Hotel School / France and holds an MBA from IMHI – Cornell/Essec. For the last nine years Stéphane  FAGEZ has been working for ACCOR (with SOFITEL, IBIS & MERCURE) in Tahiti, Guyana, Eqypt, Indonesia, Singapore and recently in the UK as General Manager of NOVOTEL Birmingham. Within easy reach of Bangkok...

ExecuStay By Marriott Acquires Executive Living, Inc., of Columbus, Ohio / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  ExecuStay By Marriott Acquires  Executive Living, Inc., of Columbus, Ohio WASHINGTON, July 28, 1999 -  ExecuStay by Marriott, the new corporate housing solutions business of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR), today announced two acquisitions as part of its strategy to generate healthy growth into 2000 and beyond. ExecuStay announced both the acquisition of the 300-unit, Columbus, Ohio- based Executive Living, Inc., and that it has acquired the corporate housing division (excluding Denver inventory) of Dallas-based JPI, one of the nation’s largest multifamily housing developers. Th...

Christopher Eastman Named Chief Information Officer at Meristar / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Christopher Eastman Named  Chief Information Officer at Meristar WASHINGTON - July 20, 1999--MeriStar Hotels Resorts (NYSE: MMH), the nation’s largest independent hotel management company, today announced that Christopher Eastman has joined the company in the new position of Chief Information Officer. Eastman will be responsible for optimizing MeriStar’s information and data management systems, particularly in the areas of financial data systems, sales and service, and human resources. He also will spearhead the company’s expansion of its Internet systems and coordinate MeriStar’s intr...

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  EI’s CourseLine Takes Distance Learning Online July 1999—The Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Motel Association (EI) has launched an online version of its popular Distance Learning program.  CourseLine™ provides online access 24 hours a day, seven days a week to the same hospitality management courses that leading hotel companies and properties around the world use for their training and continuing education programs.  The first course available to students over the Internet is Front Office Procedures, the linchpin of EI’s widely recognized certificate of specialization in...

Educational Institute Honors Accomplishments In Hospitality Training and Education / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Educational Institute Honors Accomplishments In Hospitality Training and Education ORLANDO, Fla., June 1999—Several hospitality professionals have received top awards from the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Motel Association (EI) for their dedication to hospitality education and training.  The following honors were presented during “A Celebration of Excellence” during the AH&MA Annual Conference and Leadership Forum in Nashville in April.  George M. Markantonis, vice president, hotel operations, Caesars Palace, is the 1999 recipient of the Arthur Landstreet Award.  Named ...

Las Vegas 1999: The Stakes Are Raised Again / Report by Duff Phelps / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Las Vegas 1999:  The Stakes Are Raised Again / Report by Duff Phelps CHICAGO, July 1, 1999 -  The following was released by Duff Phelps Credit Rating Co. Executive Summary During the 12-month period that began in October 1998 with the opening of Bellagio, the Las Vegas hotel room inventory is expected to grow by nearly 13%.  This increased room supply is driven mainly by four major new casino resorts:  Mirage Resorts’ (NYSE: MIR) $1.6 billion Bellagio; Mandalay Resort Group’s (NYSE: MBG; formerly Circus Circus Enterprises) $1 billion Mandalay Bay; The Las Vegas Sands’ $1.5 billion V...

Drury Inns Inc. See Advantages with REZsolutions GDS and Internet Representation Services / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Drury Inns Inc. See Advantages with  REZsolutions GDS and Internet Representation Services PHOENIX - July 16, 1999--REZsolutions, the world’s leading hotel reservations and marketing company, has been chosen to provide GDS and Internet representation services for Drury Inns Inc.  Based in St. Louis, Mo., Drury Inns Inc. is a premium, limited-service, independently owned hotel chain with 83 locations in 13 states represented under the DR code. “When TSR, our former GDS provider, announced that it was discontinuing its services, we looked at the major providers,” said Linda McCombs, vice ...

Mixed Results as the Australian Hotel industry Enters a Low Cycle / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Mixed Results as the Australian Hotel Industry  Enters a Low Cycle  July 15, 1999 - The Australian hotel industry has entered a low cycle period with occupancy levels contracting and room rates falling, as indicated in the latest update to Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels’ Hotel Property Digest. According to Vice President Marketing & Research, Ms Melinda McKay, a fall in room rates is a contributing factor to this low cycle across Australia, with a change over the March Quarter 1999 in hotels of –3.1% and serviced apartments with –0.7%. However, the motel market is remaining stable with a ...

Trump Designing One of the Largest and Most Spectacular Hotel Casinos Anywhere in the World for Atlantic City / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report Trump Designing "One of the Largest and Most Spectacular Hotel Casinos Anywhere in the World"  for Atlantic City NEW YORK - July 9, 1999 - Donald J. Trump is planning to bring to Atlantic City the same "Trump style" which dominates the skyline of New York City. Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts, Inc. (THCR) (NYSE:DJT) said today it will develop a new, world class casino hotel on the Atlantic City boardwalk at the entrance to the Atlantic City Expressway. It will be the first Atlantic City casino project fully planned, conceived and developed under the direction of THCR chairman Donald J. Trum...

MGM and Four Unions Announce Recognition Agreement for New Detroit Casino / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  MGM and Four Unions Announce Recognition Agreement for New Detroit Casino DETROIT, July 27, 1999 -  MGM Grand, Inc. and four labor unions of the Detroit Casino Council (DCC) announced today that a majority of MGM’s new Detroit casino and hotel complex employees have chosen to become members of the DCC. Dan Wade, COO of MGM Grand Detroit, said that his company will immediately recognize the DCC as the MGM Cast Members’ collective bargaining representative. Recognition is based on signed authorization cards submitted by Cast Members. The Detroit Casino Council includes the Hotel Employees ...

GS Emerging Market Real Estate Fund L.P Assigns ClubCorp the Management Contract at Palmilla, Los Cabos, Mexico / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  GS Emerging Market Real Estate Fund L.P Assigns ClubCorp  the Management Contract at Palmilla, Los Cabos, Mexico DALLAS, July 19, 1999 -  ClubCorp, the world’s largest owner and operator of private clubs and golf resorts, announces today that its resorts division has acquired the management contract for Palmilla, an oceanfront property on the Sea of Cortez in Los Cabos, Mexico. GS Emerging Market Real Estate Fund L.P. retains ownership of Palmilla. ClubCorp Resorts assumed management of Palmilla effective July 1, 1999. Palmilla, often called the “Jewel of Baja,” sits on 900 acres on t...

Charlotte Convention Visitors Bureau Exceeds Sales Goals for FY1999 / July 1999

March 30, 1999

Hotel Online Special Report  Charlotte Convention Visitors Bureau Exceeds  Sales Goals for FY 1999 CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 7, 1999 - The Charlotte Convention Visitors Bureau met its fiscal 1999 sales goals by booking 308,957 room nights for future meetings, conventions and sports and leisure events. The estimated economic impact of these bookings on the local economy is $103,927,800. "I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication our sales division has done in securing these bookings for Charlotte," remarked Melvin Tennant, CCVB President and CEO. "Our entire CCVB staff works tirelessly to promote Charlotte as a...